Heart researcher's star on rise

The Director of Heart Failure at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute received the accolade at the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) annual ‘State of the Heart’ Showcase in Sydney on 7 November.

The award recognises his research work in the area of heart failure and cardio-oncology (cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy).

Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, Brad Hazzard, presented the award to Associate Professor Sverdlov, the first winner outside of a Sydney-based institution.

CVRN’s annual ‘State of the Heart’ Showcase, now in its ninth year, provides an opportunity to acknowledge NSW researchers who are working tirelessly to combat cardiovascular disease – a major cause of death in NSW and nationwide.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, cardiovascular disease took the lives of 43,477 Australians in 2017.

A focus of Associate Professor Sverdlov’s research is heart failure. He has received Heart Foundation research funding to investigate mechanisms underlying heart failure due to obesity; novel biomarkers for early detection of cardiac abnormalities; and whether an intensive weight-loss program leads to improved outcomes in heart failure patients.

Associate Professor Sverdlov is also the Clinical Lead – Heart Failure and Cardio-oncology at Hunter New England Local Health District.

Associate Professor Doan Ngo was also a finalist for the award – she researches with, and is married to, Associate Professor Sverdlov.